How do I smell?

Prompted by another thread that I didn't want to hijack, there's been a discussion about what deodorant do you use. Some posters suggest that you don't need to use a deodorant if you don't smell. How can I tell if I smell or not? I was always under the impression that you can't smell your own BO!

I've noticed that I've become a bit sweatier recently that my anti-perspirant doesn't cope with but how can I tell if I'm starting to pong? I shower daily BTW.

p.s. And, no jokes about "with your nose stupid" in response to the thread title

People don't necessarily notice their personal smell because the nose gets habituated very quickly to smells that are constantly present (bad breath, for example). The only way to really know is to ask someone.

A lot of deodorants have decreased the amount of active ingredients because of user preferences ('no alcohol', 'sensitive skin') and various health scares (aluminum does not cause breast cancer but people were worried for a while). I love a good full on alcohol and aluminum-laced antiperspirant but they are increasingly hard to find.

I showered and got dressed as usual this morning but when I got back from the school run, I realised I had forgotten my deodorant because I could smell myself - not hugely sweaty but noticeable to me. I don't want to get used to that smell so I stick to deodorant.

I know when I smell. At times when I don't know if I smell, if I haven't showered, I just assume I do.

I also think a lot of people, because there is no sweat on their body in the form of wet or damp patches, beads etc, think they don't smell but they actually do. It may not be the classic underarm BO smell but it's a slightly unwashed body smell nonetheless.

DH showers every day, as do I (sometimes twice) and on the odd day DH hasn't yet showered, I can smell that he hasn't (again, not the classic underarm BO smell).

I can't understand people not showering every day unless for economic reasons.

Right, I've concluded that although I do sweat and have patches on some days, I probably don't smell (that's a relief) as I can't smell it. But, that I should continue to shower daily (as is good hygiene practice) and wear an effective deodorant just to be on the safe side.

Have you heard of the dry ear wax gene, these people don't have body odour which is very interesting. I think they frequency of this in the west is quite rare but the opposite is true for the eastern world.

Yes, people do get an unwashed dirty kind of smell, aside from bo. I wonder if that is more difficult to smell on themselves? I travel by bus a lot and there's often someone who has that smell. It can take your breath away so I do wonder how they're unaware of it.

I used to work with a woman that didnt wash well, she had filthy hair and black nails. But she had this smell about her like potatoes that have gone old and mouldy. No amounts of hints worked. In the end our boss had to talk to her. It didn't make any difference.

I have thetalk about washing thoroughly with DSS2 (16) about a million times. It still hasn't really got through. So I am not surprised that one or two talks from boss to subordinate didn't have the desired effect.